Gender Based Violence (GBV) has acquired a number of definitions throughout the legal instruments. According to General Recommendation No. 35 on gender-based violence against women, updating general recommendation No. 19, Paragraph 2, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (the CEDAW Committee) defines gender-based violence as “violence which is directed against a woman because she is a woman or that affects women disproportionately”, adding that it constitutes a violation of women’s human rights.

Zimbabwe adopted the same definition in Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development, ‘Zimbabwe National Gender-based Violence Strategy 2012-2015’. GBV includes acts that inflict physical, mental or sexual harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coercion and other deprivations of liberty. In Zimbabwe, the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23] (Criminal Code) and the Domestic Violence Act [Chapter 5:16] are the main legal tools available in combatting GBV.

For assistance with inquiries Family related issues, kindly get hold of our Family Law Practice Department on info@mmmlawfirm.co.zw